Separating device fob roughage



1936' J. HOLLAND-LETZ SEPARATING DEVICE FOR ROUGHAGE MILLS Filed May 21, 1952 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SEPABATING DEVICE FOR ROUGHAGE MILLS John Holland-Leta, Crown Point, ma, assignor to The Letz Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Indiana Application May 21, 1932, Serial No. 612,754

5 Claims. (Cl. 209-144) The present invention is directed generally to roughage mills and the like, but more particularly to a separating mechanism or device which is adapted to be used in connection with roughage mills for efliciently and effectively separating the lighter materials from the heavier materials for the primary purpose of producing a variety of forage and increasing the capacity of the roughage mill.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a. separating mechanism or device for roughage or cutter mills which will more effectively and efficiently separate the lighter material from the heavier material ,to thereby increase the capacity of the mill, in that, such an arrangement will only permit the heavier material to go through the grinding mechanism and subsequently mix the heavier ground material with the lighter material previously separated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved separating device for roughage mill in which the material is discharged into a separating cylinder in a direction tangentially with the inner wall thereof, so that the centrifugal action is utilized for separating the lighter material from the heavier material and at the same time a novel air deflecting mechanism is utilized at the axial center of the separating cylinder so as to deflect a current of air in a direction against the inner walls of the cylinder to further facilitate the separation of the lighter material from the heavier material as all of the material is revolving in a circular direction toward the bottom of the separating cylinder, producing in effect, a vertically extending vacuum column in the axial center of the cylinder, up through which, the lighter materials are drawn for effectively separating them from the falling heavier materials.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved separating device for a roughage mill in which the material is discharged into a cylindrical separator so as to create a centrifugal whirl therein and in which battles are arranged spaced apart on the inner cylindrical wall to interrupt and create interruption in the centrifugally revolving material to more effectively separate the lighter material vational view of the conventional form of roughage mill showing my improved separating attachment in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 2 -2 in Fig. 1, and 5 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 3-4 in Fig. 2.

The present invention is' an improvement over my copending applications Serial No. 180,085 filed April 1, 1927; Serial No. 451,101 filed May 10 9, 1930 and Serial No. 538,044 filed Maylfi, 1931.

In illustrating one form of my invention I have shown the same in connection with a conventional form of roughage mill of the form and construction described and illustrated in my l8 aforesaid co-pending applications. This roughage mill comprises briefly, a general frame construction generally indicated by the reference character In which in turn has journalled thereon a main drive shaft ll. Secured to the'main .0 drive shaft II is a revolving cutter head I2 located within a cutter head casing generally indicated by the reference character l3. Secured to the other end of the main shaft H is a grindmg mechanism located within the housing conil struction, and generally indicated by the reference character H. Located adjacent the cutter head casing I3 is a fan housing I5. Secured to the shaft H and within the fan housing I5 is an elevating fan generally indicated by the reference character l6. Located between the fan housing l5 and the grindingmechanism II is a hopper ll. Located below the cutter head I! and surrounding a major portion thereof and adjacent the periphery of the rotary cutter head U is a perforated grate or plate 18 through which the material passes into a trough [9. Located in the trough I9 is a conveyor screw 20 for conveying the material in the trough laterally so as to be in a position to be elevated by the fan IE or discharged into the conduit leading to the mixing fan hereafter described.

In the manner described in my aforementioned copending applications the roughage mill in this instance is provided with amixing fan casing generally indicated by the reference character 2!, and has mounted therein a mixing fan generally indicated by the reference character 22. This fan 22 is mounted on a shaft 23 journalled insuitable bearings in the main frame and fan casing. Connected with the axial opening of one side of the casing 2| is a conduit 24 which has its upper end communicating with and connected to the delivery end of the conveyor trough Ill Communication between the ti ough I8 andthe U conduit 24 is controlled by a removable valve or slide plate 25. Located between the fan casing I5 and the delivery end of the conveyor trough I9 is an opening in which a plate 28 may be inserted or removed for controlling communication between the trough l9 and the fan casing IS in the manner clearly described in my previously mentioned co-pending applications. Connected to the mixing fan casing or housing 2| and extending vertically with respect thereto is a delivery conduit 21 which may be connected to a receptacle for holding the forage. Connected to the other side ofthe fan casing 2| is an inclined conduit 28 which is connected by means of elbows .and a vertically extending second conduit, as

shown at 29, to the upper end of my improved separating mechanism generally indicated by the reference character 30, which will hereinafter be more fully described. The grinding mechanism I 4 is connected by means of a downwardly extending conduit 3| to the inclined conduit 28 for mixing the ground material with the lighter ma terial previously separated by my improved separating mechanism.

My improved separating device comprises a cylindrical shell or casing 30, which is adapted to be detachably fastened above and to the upper part of the hopper I! of the roughage mill. Connected to this cylindrical member at the opposite ends are two oppositely disposed and conically shaped extensions 32 and 33. The lower extension 33 is supported and clamped to the upper portion of the hopper II by means of clamping brackets and bolts generally indicated by the reference character 34. The clamping brackets 34 secure vertically extending bars 35 in place, which in turn, have their upper ends, as shown at 36 riveted to the inclined side of the cone shaped member 33. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing that the lower end of the cone extension 33 is held spaced from the upper edge of the hopper I1 by means of these bars 35. Located in the axial center of the conical extension 33 is an air conduit, generally indicated by the reference character 31, which is in the form of an elbow, and whichin turn, connects by means of an extension or conduit 38 to another conduit 39. This conduit 39 communicates, as shown at 40, with the discharge conduit 21 and has its upper or other end connected, as shown at 4|, to a vertically extending conduit 42, which in turn, has its lower end connected with the fan housing l5 for conveying the cut material from the cutting mechanism to the upper end of the cylindrical separator by means of an elbow 43 which is arranged to discharge the material tangentially within the cylindrical separator 30 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The conduit or elbow 31 is supported in the axial center adjacent the lower portion of the conical extension 33 by means of radially projecting bolts 44 which have their outer ends attached to the vertical strip 35, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Fastened'to each of these rods 44 are vertically extending straps or bars 45 which have their upper ends bent inwardly at 46 and secured to a conically shaped deflector generally indicated by the reference character 41. This defiector is preferably made of two conically shaped members or cones which have their bases connected together so that the incoming air coming through the conduit 31 is deflected laterally between the bars 45 in a direction toward the outer walls of the cylindrical separator 30. Arranged in spaced relation about the inner cylindrical in the cylinder.

walls of the separator 30 are inwardly projecting and longitudinally extending pyramid-like interruptors or baflies 48 which are secured by means of rivets 49 to the inner wall of the cylinder.

The operation of my improved separating device for roughage mill for separating the heavier material from the lighter material is as follows:-

Let us assume that the valve or plate 25 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing and that the valve 26 is removed from the opening for controlling communication between the trough l9 and the fan casing l5. As the material is cut by the cylinder cutter head 12 it is passed through the grate l9 and conveyed laterally in the trough l9 by the conveyor screw 29 where it is elevated by the fan l3 vertically, upwardly through the conduit 42 and discharged by the conduit 43 tangentially in the upper portion of the cylindrical separator 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. By discharging the material in the cylindrical separator in this manner causes the same to revolve or whirl within the cylinder and at the same time it will be noted that by reason of the conduit 29 through its various extensions connected at one end to the upper conical extension 32 at the top of the cylinder and connected at the other end to the axial center of the mixing fan 22, a suction upwardly is created, so as to withdraw the lighter material upwardly through the separating cylinder. At the same time it will be noted that the upward blast created by the mixing fan 22 passing upwardly through the delivery conduit 21 creates a draft through the conduit 39 which in turn, is connected by the conduit 38 to the air conduit 31, and that by reason of the conically shaped deflector 41 positioned at the delivery end of the conduit 31, the air blasts are directed outwardly toward the cylindrical wall of the separator 30 to further facilitate and efficiently sep--' arate the lighter material from the heavier material, as the heavier material is falling spirally downward by gravity into the hopper H where it is subsequently conveyed into the grinding mechanism generally indicated by the reference' circular whirl will be agitated and interrupted so as to more efliciently permit the suction created at the upper end of the separator and the blast of air discharged in the lower end of the separator to efficiently separate the lighter material from the heavier material, as the heavier material is falling spirally through the cylindrical separator. In this connection I wish to also point out that this arrangement in effect creates what might be said to be a vacuum column, in the center of the cylindrical separator, by reason of the centrifugal action of the revolving material with- This vacuum column has the effect of drawing into it the lighter material so as to further effect an eilicient separationof the lighter material from the heavy material.

While in the above specification I have described my cylindrical separator as being provided with these baffles or interruptors 49, it will of course, be understod that the cylindrical separator operates emciently without them. but becomes more eifective for separating certain types of material than certain other types, and is therefore within the contemplation of my invention to make use of these baiiles or to dispense with them as the case may require.

The separating mechanism or device may be usedto separate various kinds of grain from the lighter material after the material has been passed through the cutter head, by interposing a chute below the separating cylinder and collecting the grain in a separate receptacle, in which case no material would be passed through the grinding mechanism. Such an arrangement is within contemplation of my invention.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention -may assume in practice, it will of course, be

understood that the same is capable of modification, and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A separating mechanism for a forage preparing device comprising a single elongated cylindrical casing, a suction conduit connected to the upper end of said casing, a second conduit for discharging the. material tangentially into the upper end of said casing, vertically extending spaced apart. baflies secured to the inner wall of said casing, a conduit located in the axial center adjacent the lower portion of said casing, and a deflector mounted adjacent the upper end of said last named conduit for directing a blast of air outwardly toward the cylindrical walls and against the baiiies of said casing for separating the lighter material from the heavier material.

2. A separating mechanism for a forage preparing device comprising a single elongated cylindrical casing, a suction conduit connected to the upper end of said. casing, a discharge conduit connected to the upper end of said casing for discharging the material tangentially into said casing, a plurality, of longitudinally and vertically extending baiiies secured to the inner wall of said casing and extending inwardly therefrom,

said lastv named conduit for'directing a blast of air outwardly toward the cylindrical walls and baiiles of said casing for separating the lighter material from the heavier material.

3. A separating mechanism for a forage preparing device adapted to be secured thereon, including a cylindrical casing, a suction conduit connected at the axial center adjacent the top of said casing, a second conduit connected tangentially to the upper portion of said casing, a plurality of spaced apart pyramid-like baiiles secured to the inner wall of said casing, a third conduit connected to the axial center of and adjacent the lower end of said casing, and a cone like deflector mounted adjacent the upper end of said last named conduit for directing a blast of air outwardly toward the cylindrical walls of said casing for separating the lighter material from the heavier material.

'4. A separating mechanism for a forage preparing device adapted to be secured on the hopper thereof, including a cylindrical casing, a suction conduit connected at the axial center adjacent the top of said casing, a second conduit connected tangentially to the upper portion of said casing,

a plurality of spaced apart pyramid-like baiiies secured to the inner wall of said casing, a third :5

,conduit connected to the axial center of and adjacent the lower end of said casing, and two oppositely disposed cone deflectors mounted adjacent to and spaced from the upper end of said last named conduit for directing a blast of air outwardly toward the cylindrical walls of said casing for separating the lighter material from. the heavier material.

5. A separating mechanism for a forage preparing device adapted to be secured on the hopto per thereof, including a cylindrical casing, a suction conduit connected at the axial center adjacent the top of said casing, a second conduit connected tangentially to the upper portion of said casing, a plurality of spaced apart pyramidso like bailies secured to the inner wall of said casing,-a third conduit connected to the axial center of and adjacent the lower end of said casing, two oppositely disposed cone deflectors mounted on the upper end of said last namedconduit, as

and spaced apart straps secured .to said conduit 

